Grapevine plant named ‘Sugrafiftysix’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct grapevine variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ is described. The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ is characterized by having narrow elliptic, green berries that are very large and very firm and crisp. The berries form large clusters and ripen in mid-season, about August 17 th , in the area of Wasco, Kern County, Calif.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis vinifera.

Variety denomination: ‘SUGRAFIFTYSIX’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of anew and distinct variety of grapevine, ‘Sugrafiftysix’, as hereindescribed and illustrated. The new variety was first selected as breedernumber ‘GR560W’ by Terry A. Bacon in Wasco, Kern County, Calif. inAugust 2015. The variety was originated by controlled hybridization.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ is characterized by narrow elliptic,green berries that are very large and very firm. The vine forms largeclusters and ripening begins in mid-season, about August 17, in the areaof Wasco, Kern County, Calif.

The seed parent is the varietal selection ‘Sugrathirtyfive’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,491) and the pollen parent is the varietal selection‘GR115W’ (unpatented breeding selection). The parent varieties werefirst crossed in May 2012. The date of first sowing was March 2013, andthe date of first flowering was May 2015.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ was first asexually propagated inDecember 2015 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif., by Terry A. Bacon usinghardwood cuttings.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ resembles its seed parent‘Sugrathirtyfive’ in appearance and color, but the fruit of the newvariety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ begins ripening about August 17th compared toSeptember 1st for ‘Sugrathirtyfive’. The new variety also differs fromthe seed parent in that the shape of the berries of the new variety isnarrow elliptic, while the shape of the berries of ‘Sugrathirtyfive’ isbroad elliptic.

The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ differs from its pollen parent ‘GR115W’in that the fruit of the new variety begins ripening about August 17thcompared to September 15th for ‘GR115W’. The new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’also differs from its pollen parent in that the shape of the berries isnarrow elliptic, while the shape of the berries for ‘GR115W’ is obtuseovate.

The berries of the new variety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ have a similar color tothe berries of ‘Autumn King’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,284). However, theberries of the new variety begin ripening on August 17th compared toSeptember 20th for ‘Autumn King’. In addition, the berries of the newvariety have a sweet neutral aroma with crisp-juicy texture compared toa bland neutral aroma and soft-meaty texture for ‘Autumn King’. The newvariety ‘Sugrafiftysix’ also differs from ‘Thompson Seedless’(unpatented) in that the berries of the new variety have a narrowelliptic berry shape and a cluster weight of about 850 g compared to anelongated berry shape and a cluster weight of about 550 g for ‘ThompsonSeedless’. Additionally, ‘Thompson Seedless’ begins ripening earlierthan ‘Sugrafiftysix’, on about July 27^(th) compared to August 17^(th)for ‘Sugrafiftysix’.

The new ‘Sugrafiftysix’ variety has been shown to maintain itsdistinguishing characteristics through successive, asexual propagationsby, for example, cuttings and grafting.

Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics describedherein may occur with changes in any of a variety of factors such asgrowing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management andclimatic variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimensof the foliage and fruit of the present new grape variety‘Sugrafiftysix’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surfaces ofthe leaves and exterior and sectional views of the fruit. Thephotographic illustration was taken shortly after the fruit was pickedand the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

Many of the descriptive values in this specification are based on andconform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant GeneticResources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983 and/or 1997,which was developed in collaboration with the Office International de laVigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection ofNew Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to a three year old‘Sugrafiftysix’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County,Calif. during 2018, and is believed to apply to plants of the varietygrown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

VINE

-   General: (Measurements taken on a three year old plant).    -   -   Vine size.—Large. Height: Approximately 2.0 m. Width:            Approximately 2.5 m.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Density of foliage.—Dense.        -   Productivity.—Very productive.        -   Crop load.—Approximately 34 kg per vine after removing extra            clusters.        -   Own root.—Yes.        -   Training method.—Typically spur pruned leaving 36-40 two-bud            spurs.        -   Resistance.—Average resistance and susceptibility to            diseases or pests of Vitis vinifera species.-   Trunk:    -   -   Shape.—Stocky.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 7.5 cm (at 30 cm above the soil            line).        -   Straps.—Short.        -   Surface texture.—Medium shaggy.        -   Inner and outer bark color.—Inner bark about Medium            Greyed-Orange 166C and Medium Greyed-Orange 173C weathering            to about Dark Greyed-Green 197B in the outer bark.

SHOOTS

-   Young shoot:    -   -   Form of tip.—Half open.        -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Absent or very            weak.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 144C.-   Woody shoot: (Observations made in the middle third of shoot in    August 2018).    -   -   Attitude before tying.—Semi-drooping.        -   Growth of axillary shoots.—Medium, approximately 17 cm to 21            cm.        -   Internode length.—Medium, approximately 70 mm to 90 mm.        -   Width at node.—Approximately 13 mm.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Surface texture.—Striated.        -   Main color.—About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C.        -   Color of dorsal side of internode.—About Medium            Greyed-Orange 166C.        -   Color of ventral side of internode.—About Medium            Greyed-Orange 166D.        -   Color of dorsal side of node.—About Medium Yellow-Green 146D            with Medium Greyed-Orange 166C.        -   Color of ventral side of node.—About Medium Yellow-Green            146D with Medium Greyed-Orange 166C.        -   Density of erect hairs on nodes.—Absent or Very Sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on internodes.—Absent or Very Sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on internodes.—Absent or Very            Sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on nodes.—Absent or Very Sparse.-   Tendrils:    -   -   Distribution on the shoot at full flowering.—Discontinuous.        -   Thickness.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 144C in mid-summer.        -   Form.—Bifurcated.        -   Number of consecutive tendrils.—Up to two.        -   Length of tendril.—Medium, approximately 150 mm to 190 mm.

LEAVES

-   Young leaves:    -   -   Color of upper surface of first 4 distal unfolded            leaves.—About Medium Green 138B.        -   Average intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal            leaves prior to flowering.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins at lower surface of            4th distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs between veins at lower surface of 4th            distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th            distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th            distal unfolded leaf.—Absent or very sparse.-   Mature leaves: (Observations made on leaves in the middle third of    shoot in August 2018).    -   -   Average length.—Large, approximately 125 mm.        -   Average width.—Large, approximately 165 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Pentagonal.        -   Number of lobes.—Approximately five.        -   Mature leaf profile.—Undulate.        -   Blistering surface of blade upper surface.—Absent or very            weak.        -   Leaf blade tip.—In the plane of the leaf.        -   Undulation of margin.—Slight.        -   Thickness.—Average — typical of Vitis vinifera species.        -   Overall shape of teeth.—Mixture of both sides straight and            both sides convex.        -   Length of teeth.—Medium, ranging from about 4 mm to 10 mm.        -   Ratio length/width of teeth.—Very small, nearly 1:1.        -   General shape of petiole sinus lobes.—Half open.        -   Tooth at petiole sinus.—Absent.        -   Petiole sinus limited by veins.—Absent.        -   Shape of upper lateral sinus lobes.—Usually slightly            overlapping, some closed.        -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Deep, approximately 50 mm.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent to very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent to very sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent to very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent to very sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of            blade.—Absent to very sparse.        -   Autumn coloration of leaves.—Mainly about Dark Green 139A            but some leaves are mixed Dark Green 138A with Dark            Greyed-Purple 187A and Dark Yellow-Green 154A.-   Upper leaf surface:    -   -   Color.—About Dark Green 139A.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Absent or very sparse.-   Lower leaf surface:    -   -   Color.—About Medium Green 138B.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Absent or very sparse.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length of petiole.—Approximately 70 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 4 mm.        -   Length of petiole compared to middle vein.—Much shorter, 70            mm petiole compared to 125 mm middle vein.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on petiole.—Absent.        -   Density of erect hairs on petiole.—Absent.        -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 147C.-   Buds:    -   -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Size.—Medium, approximately 3 mm wide and 4 mm long.        -   Position.—Slightly held out.        -   Bud fruitfulness.—Good fertility, mostly fruitful in 3^(rd)            to 5^(th) bud position with 1 to 2 clusters per shoot.        -   Time of bud burst.—Medium, approximately March 18^(th), for            the region of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, Calif.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   Flower type.—Fully developed stamen and fully developed            gynoecium.        -   Position of first flowering node.—Usually 3^(rd) to 5^(th)            node of current season growth.        -   Number of inflorescences per shoot.—Average 1.5.        -   Time of full bloom.—Medium for the area of the Southern San            Joaquin Valley, Calif. Approximately May 7^(th).

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   Ripening period.—Midseason, beginning about August 17^(th)            with mid-ripe about August 22^(nd) in the area of the            Southern San Joaquin Valley, Calif.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Storage quality.—Excellent.-   Cluster:    -   -   Form.—Conical, shouldered.        -   Cluster size (peduncle excluded).—Large.        -   Cluster length (peduncle excluded).—Approximately 230 mm.        -   Cluster width.—Approximately 130 mm.        -   Cluster weight.—Approximately 850 g.        -   Cluster density.—Medium, loose and full.        -   Number of berries.—Approximately 80.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Medium, approximately 20 mm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 6 mm.        -   Lignification of peduncle.—Weak.        -   Color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 146C.-   Berry:    -   -   Size.—Very large, approximately 10.5 g.        -   Dimensions.—Longitudinal axis: Approximately 28 mm.            Horizontal axis: Approximately 23 mm.        -   Uniformity of size.—Uniform.        -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Skin color (without bloom).—About Medium Yellow-Green 144B            to Medium Yellow-Green 146C.        -   Flesh color.—About Medium Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Anthocyanin color of flesh.—Absent or very weak.        -   Bloom (cuticular wax).—Medium.        -   Pedicel length.—Approximately 7 mm.        -   Pedicel thickness.—Medium, approximately 1.8 mm.        -   Berry separation from pedicel.—Moderately easy.        -   Seed traces.—Berries contain 1 to 3 about Medium            Greyed-White 156B rudimentary soft seed traces per berry.        -   Berry firmness.—Very firm.        -   Flesh juiciness.—Juicy.        -   Flesh texture.—Crisp.        -   Particular flavor.—Low-acid with no particular aroma.        -   Refractometer test.—Approximately 18 Brix.        -   Juice ph.—Approximately 3.6.        -   Titratable acidity.—Approximately 0.40%.        -   Brix:acid ratio.—Approximately 45.-   Skin:    -   -   Skin thickness.—Medium, about 175 μm.        -   Skin texture.—Smooth.        -   Skin reticulation.—Absent.        -   Skin tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Skin tendency to crack.—Low.        -   Skin sensitivity to sunburn.—None or very low.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as hereinillustrated and described.